Another year and another season, as the quiet and cold breeze across the empty stadiums wait to be filled with sound of drums, cheers of fanatic fans, horns andthe cry of "Sachin". Time passes swiftly to yet another season of the great India cricket extravaganza- IPL 2010. A time of the year when the young and old, men and women adjust their daily schedule from their mundane life just to wear the color of their team and cheer till the last ball is either hit for a six or strikes against the sticks!
Like every astronomical event, IPL has always had its share of controversies and hiccup’s, be it season ones criticism over the authenticity of the twenty-20 format , or season 2’s security issue which forced the tournament to be moved away from its home land to an alien country. This year is no less, with the only difference that it seems to have casted a dark cloud over two cricket playing countries.
This week’s auction of player for the franchises threw a “doosara” to all cricket fans. A fact hard to believe but not a single Pakistani player was given contract by any franchise. The members of the world champion team sat at the bench all day waiting for a chance to play with the big guys, but allas , had to face the harsh reality of being a spectator for yet another year.
Over the last two days, the government from the other side has cried out foul and accused to Indian government of diluting the concoct harmony being built between the two countries. What harmony are they talking about ? Over the last one year India has been demanding action , and at time even pleading to the Pakistani government to take action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. What have we got till now .... nothing !! I personally do not disagree to what happened at the player auction few days back. Reports say the IPL administrators advised any team from bidding for a Pakistani players, some say the team owners were reluctant due to security issues and visa concerns; and few reports even suggest that the owners were fastidious, given the limited options they had. Personally, I love the Pakistani version - "We were snubbed" !
Well, they deserve to be after what they portray in front of us and intend to do behind us- a big kick in the rear. What has changed from last year to this year, that its snow balling into such a big issue? Why should India encourage any sort of friendship when Pakistan cannot comprehend the word reciprocate? They have always expected India to forget its differences and welcome them as with open arm ; to get stabbed in the back again and have their guts pulled out . Critics say, exhibition of such animosity will just draw the two countries further apart resulting in total breakdown of people to people communication. How many time does India have to encourage people to people communication? Allowing cricketer or entertainers will never stop the militants or the ISI from plotting against us. Will Shahid Afridi or Younis Khan or Kamran Akmal meet LeT chief's and talk them out of their heinous actions, once we allow them to play in India? Will they people of Pakistan watching the tournaments in the comfort of their living rooms get out to protest against the tactics and dallying of their government towards the Mumbai attacker? Why welcome a guest when it's evident the very same guest is going to bomb your behind after all the hospitality and love shown to them.
Pakistan intends to retaliate by blocking transmission of the games on it network, they are debating on whether to send its national hockey team for next month's World Cup in India, the government wants to ban Indian television and cinema and I am sure more BS will be added to the list with days to come. They dont want to come for hockey world cup-guess what we get a walk over in the very first game, inching us one game closer to the cup- now whose the looser? Want to ban bollywood films, at least during that period piracy will reduce- whose the looser again !!!
With all these activists and media program aimed to bring about harmony between the two countries makes me wonder if there is anyone in Pakistan with the same frame of mind? They keep complaining of facing similar issues of terrorism as India, but conveniently forget that the concept of terrorism is breeding in their own back yard. They shake hands with us with one hand and send a signal from the other to cut that very hand. I feel sick to my stomach when I see such hypocrisy and makes me feel even sicker when Indian themselves cry foul to incidents like the IPL. I think the action taken knowingly or unknowingly (which ever the media likes to portray) by the IPL team owners showed what the people of India really feel- a feeling of betrayal , vendetta, impatience and disgust. I approve of the actions taken by the team owners, calling it a verdict against the hypocritical, brutal, sadistic and insensitive behavior of our neighboring government and their militant associates.
